KINGSTON, R.I. - Rhode Island had eight players named to the CAA Football All-Conference Team. Senior Ed Lee gave the Rams two spots on the all-conference team, as he earned honor as both a wide receiver and punt returner.

The Rams had three members of the All-CAA First Team, as right guard Nick Correia, right tackle Ajani Cornelius and cornerback Jordan Jones were each named to the squad. It is the second straight season on the all-conference team for Correia and Jones, who both earned second team honors in 2021.

The All-CAA Second Team honorees included Lee at wide receiver, running back Marques DeShields and linebacker Jake Fire. Making the All-CAA Third Team were left tackle Lorenzo Thompson, linebacker Evan Stewart and Lee as a punt returner.

Correia, Cornelius and Thompson represent 60 percent of Rhody's offensive line unit that blocked for the third-highest scoring offense in the league. The Rams piled up 30.6 points per game behind a balanced attack. Behind its line, URI ranked fourth in CAA Football in both rushing attack (168.8 yards per game) and passing attack (235.3 yards/game). The Rams were also fifth in the league with just 21 sacks allowed in 11 games.

Jones elevated his game at cornerback this season, leading the CAA with 15 total passes defended while averaging 1.36 passes defended per game. He had a conference-best 12 pass break ups and tied for third in the league with three interceptions, including an interception return for a touchdown. A Second Team Associated Press All-American last season, he finished his time in Kingston at URI's all-time record holder with 33 career passes defended.

Lee had a true breakout season in 2022, leading all CAA Football players with 908 receiving yards on 56 catches. He also had five touchdown catches, and the game-winning two-point conversion catch that ended the longest game in FCS history, a seven-overtime win at Monmouth. He ranked fourth in the league in catches and seventh in yards per catch (16.2). As a punt returner, Lee ranked third in the CAA with 11.3 yards per punt return. He was 10th in the CAA in all-purpose yards per game with 96.9.

DeShields had one of the greatest individual seasons ever by a Rhode Island running back in his lone year in Kingston. Despite not taking over as the starter for the Rams until the fourth game of the season, he was second in CAA with 1,187 rushing yards, 12 rushing touchdowns and 107.9 rushing yards per game. He had seven 100-yard games, including a 204-yard performance in the season finale against UAlbany.

The graduate transfer was third in CAA with 14 total touchdowns, fourth in total points scored (84), fourth in all-purpose yards per game (126.3) and he tied the single-season rushing touchdown record, which was set in 1954 by Pat Abbruzzi.

Fire and Stewart formed one of the top inside linebacker duos at the FCS level. Fire led the Rams and ranked third among all CAA Football players with 99 tackles, averaging 9.0 tackles per game. He started every game and also had 7.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles and one interception.

Stewart was second on the team and eighth in the CAA with 80 total tackles, despite missing one game, He was eighth in the conference with 8.0 tackles per game and ninth with 5.0 sacks. Stewart also had 6.0 tackles for loss, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and three pass break ups.

2022 CAA FOOTBALL POSTSEASON AWARDS
Offensive Player of the Year:  Jaden Shirden, Monmouth
Defensive Player of the Year: John Pius, William & Mary
Special Teams Player of the Year: D'Ago Hunter, Towson
Coach of the Year: Rick Santos, New Hampshire
Offensive Rookie of the Year: Reese Poffenbarger, UAlbany
Defensive Rookie of the Year: Jalen Jones, William & Mary
Chuck Boone Leadership Award: Tristan Wheeler, Richmond

First Team
Offense
QB – Reece Udinski, Richmond
RB – Jaden Shirden, Monmouth
RB – Bronson Yoder, William & Mary
FB – Owen Wright, Monmouth
WR – Jadakis Bonds, Hampton
WR – Jaaron Hayek, Villanova
WR – Jakob Herres, Richmond
TE – Thomas Greaney, UAlbany
OL – Ryan Coll, Richmond
OL – AJ Cornelius, Rhode Island
OL – Nick Correia, Rhode Island
OL – Charles Grant, William & Mary
OL – Colby Sorsdal, William & Mary
Defense
DL – Marlem Louis, Richmond
DL – Nate Lynn, William & Mary
DL – Dylan Ruiz, New Hampshire
DL – Josiah Silver, New Hampshire
LB – Johnny Buchanan, Delaware
LB – Marcus Hillman, Elon
LB – John Pius, William & Mary
LB – Tristan Wheeler, Richmond
CB – Jordan Jones, Rhode Island
CB – Ryan Poole, William & Mary
S – Noah Plack, Delaware
S – Kedrick Whitehead, Delaware
Special Teams
PK – Skyler Davis, Elon
P – Ryan Kost, Monmouth
KR – D'Ago Hunter, Towson
PR – Dylan Laube, New Hampshire
SPEC – Caylin Newton, William & Mary

Second Team
Offense
QB – Nolan Henderson, Delaware
RB – Marques DeShields, Rhode Island
RB – Dylan Laube, New Hampshire
FB – Donavyn Lester, William & Mary
WR – Ed Lee, Rhode Island
WR – Dymere Miller, Monmouth
WR – Jackson Parham, Elon
TE – Lachlan Pitts, William & Mary
OL – Michael Corbi, Villanova
OL – Patrick Flynn, New Hampshire
OL – Mike Gerace, Maine
OL – Joe More, Richmond
OL – Mike Purcell, Elon
Defense
DL – Carl Fowler, William & Mary
DL – Jesus Gibbs, Towson
DL – Artis Hemmingway, Delaware
DL – KeShaun Moore, Hampton
LB – Jake Fire, Rhode Island
LB – Isaiah Jones, William & Mary
LB – Adrian Otero, Maine
LB – Qwahsin Townsel, Hampton
CB – Justis Henley, Delaware
CB – Jalen Jones, William & Mary
S – Aaron Banks, Richmond
S – Omar Rogers, Elon
Special Teams
PK – Ethan Chang, William & Mary
P – Riley Williams, Towson
KR – Dez Boykin, Villanova
PR – D'Ago Hunter, Towson
SPEC – AJ Mistler, UAlbany

Third Team
Offense
QB – Reese Poffenbarger, UAlbany
RB – Jalen Hampton, Elon
RB – Todd Sibley, UAlbany
FB – Zavier Scott, Maine
WR – Leroy Henley, Richmond
WR – Thyrick Pitts, Delaware
WR – Jourdan Townsend, Delaware
TE – Shawn Bowman, Maine
OL – Greg Anderson, Monmouth
OL – Fintan Brose, Delaware
OL – Justin Szuba, Monmouth
OL – Lorenzo Thompson, Rhode Island
OL – Jabril Williams, Elon
Defense
DL – Ray Eldridge, Richmond
DL – Jeremiah Grant, Richmond
DL – Anton Juncaj, UAlbany
DL – Chase McGowan, Delaware
LB – Carthell Flowers-Lloyd, Stony Brook
LB – Dylan Kelly, UAlbany
LB – Phil O'Connor, Richmond
LB – Evan Stewart, Rhode Island
CB – TreVon Jones, Elon
CB – Mike Reid, Monmouth
S – Pop Bush, New Hampshire
S – Ali Shockley, Hampton
Special Teams
PK – Matthew Mercurio, Villanova
P – Jeff Yurk, Elon
KR – Dylan Laube, New Hampshire
PR – Ed Lee, Rhode Island
SPEC – Chandler Brayboy, Elon